Bath time For the Grandparents!

the dogs in our house we getting gross and stinky.  As I worked from home on Wednesday I thought to myself “my coworker smells like a bag of Doritos” and no, I was not referring to a 5 year old – I was talking about Mulligan.

Well – Sunday was a miserable morning for the two fluffy kids in our house.  Kens and Mulls got baths.  We thought it was needed since the grandparents were coming in town on Wednesday and {don’t judge us} but I am pretty sure their last bath was in September and was done by the doggy day care center.  {we will bathe our real human kid better, I promise}

Needless to say – we didn’t have 2 happy dogs with us.  Mulligan put on the dramatic, pouty face the whole time and Kennesaw just attempted to shake the water off each time Kyle dumped water on her.  But… they now smell like shampoo vs. a vacuum cleaner {and you all know that a vacuum has a distinct smell to it once it has been running} and they are super soft.

Kyle had to wash them alone because I normally sit in the bath and hold the dog down {true story} but with me being all knocked up and things that was just too dangerous.  So, I played “catcher” and got them as they were done and attempted to dry them off as best as I could.  Mulligan is easier to dry off…. but Kennesaw just may be part dog, part sponge and I think hours later she is still drying off.

…..and they didn’t even run their wet puppy bodies into the guest bedroom on the freshly made bed!  They must really love their grandparents because they always put their wet bodies in our bed to dry off.

too early to think up a title.

Look at this early morning post from me! :)  I am at home this morning because our house is old and falling apart and the dishwasher broke like 2 weeks ago. And after having to hand wash dishes for a few weeks I  FINALLY followed up with our property management company to be like "um. hi. hello. what is going on with our dishwasher?!" ... and it appears the contractor didn't update them about a broken part and having to reschedule AND the contractor forgot to reschedule.  So... I am sitting here waiting for the dishwasher man to come to our house and make Kyle's week by fixing the dishwasher. we would have never made it in the non-electricity / no dishwasher era -- we.are.lazy.

But. With all that said. This morning has been so utterly relaxing. I am sitting on the couch - watching GMA, drinking my coffee, eating my yogurt, and monitoring my work email for important things. I got ready on my own time and it wasn't a mad sweaty dash to get up, ready, and out of the house {like normal} ... long story short - I could SO do this "stay at home" / "work from home" thing. ...like once a week. Let me be honest: I would DIE without social interaction.

I did love that both Mulls and Kens got in their crate like they normally do and when I just walked right past Kenne's crate and she realized I wasn't locking her up for the day she got SO excited and bounded out of the crate, tail wagging, and hopped on me to say that she was happy.  Little does she know that she will be locked up whenever this contractor gets here and then leaves.  Momma's gotta go to work to pay for your food and daycare and toys and vet visits and treats.  {but seriously, when will this dishwasher man be here?!}

On another topic.  This half marathon training is hard. Like harder than it was in the past.  Getting back into it is not the hard part.  I have been diligent about hitting the gym & working out & scheduling work outs - but I am having a hard time hitting the miles.  Maybe it is because I HATE HATE HATE treadmill running, but it is just too hot to run outside.  On top of it - my right foot {the arch} has been hurting.  Per the usual, I self diagnosed myself with tight muscles so I am making a much better effort to stretch and stretch a lot. And since my foot was REALLY hurting yesterday I skipped Blast900 since I didn't think hills, sprints, and running would be a good idea. But it is feeling better today - so I think I will try a little short run with lots and lots of stretching. :)

And. Since I am STILL waiting. I am going to Link Up with another fun link up I have seen bloggers doing called "It's Okay Thursday" ... probably won't be a weekly thing, but why not participate? (Objective: a list of things that in my mind are a-okay)

IT IS OKAY...

...to plan Kyle and my exotic 1 year anniversary trip that is WAY far away and I know won't actually happen...
...that I think it is super weird that people google search "barbie and kyle shanahan" {i know this thanks to the stats on how people find my blog}. Like why are you google searching us. We're LAME...

...to love on my dogs as much as I do...

...that I stay up WAY too late reading WAY too often. Sometimes a good book just sucks me in...

...that I really don't understand the point of this link up...

...that I am really impatient waiting for this contractor to come. I really need to get to work...

...that I ordered my 2013-2014 Erin Condren planner already. I know it was an impulse buy, but I just wanted to have it 100% ready for January 1...

...that I have not yet started my Christmas shopping even though I am normally 50% done by now...

...

That was random and weird. Not sure how I feel about that link up. But this whole post is random and weird.

1 more day till Friday ... I think we can all make it, right?! Even though Kyle and I have nothing on the calendar for this weekend I like to know that it is coming up and so super close.

.Ok. I think I am done.  

Friday*s Letters

Before I get into my letters that sum up my week I would like to go on the record and state that this was the weirdest week in the history of all weeks.  July 4th threw me off.  Having a Wednesday off and then having to go back to work was like having two Mondays in one week and we all know that Mondays are by far the worst day of the week.

I am so super proud of all my buddies who toughed out the Peachtree Roadrace on the 4th.  The heat and the humidity - holy moly no ma'am.  I ended up selling my race number (the honest way - no profit made) because I was not ready for it nor did I feel like waking up early and toughing out 6.2 miles in the hot hot heat. :: slacker, i know. don't hate ::

I am starting half marathon training next week thanks to Elizabeth and her fabulous giveaway for the 13.1 Atlanta.  I have raced this in the past and loved it!

Kyle and I FINALLY found a local Chinese restaurant this evening so we are so super pumped.  We have Mexican and Chinese and Italian. Yum. But why is it that all the best Chinese places are in the most ghetto locations or buildings?!

:: And now... my Friday Letters ::

Dear Friday :: I am so so so grateful for you today.  This week was rough and people never cease to amaze me.  Next week is a new week and I hope hope hope it is hands down way better than this week. Oi Vey.

Dear Life :: I may complain too much about you and seem unhappy at times, but I really am grateful for you and everyone who is in my life. I do wish you'd slow down and throw me a bone sometimes, but I know that you're not handing me more than I can handle.

K doing P90X yoga! :o)

Dear Husband :: I am so proud of you for starting P90X and then sticking with it! I know you just started it but I am super impressed. And because I love you so... I will share this fabulous picture with even more Internet people!  But you do sweat a lot and it is kinda gross.  But don't worry.  I still think you're great, I just don't want hugs or for you to get too close. xoxo - much love. 

Dear Boy At Work Who Made Me Cry :: I know you don't know you made me cry because I hung up the phone. vented to my office mom. and cried. but still. you made me cry and you were not very nice. granted, me being mentally and physically exhausted probably didn't help all that much - but still - manage your employees and stop shoving your work onto me.

Dear Kyle :: I love you. And I love that you asked/said "is _______ still at the office?! Do I need to call him?! he does not make you cry" I love that you protect my honor from afar and think that people should treat me right.

Dear Office Mom :: I am forever grateful for you and your words of wisdom.  Don't kill me but I didn't leave early today like you ordered me to do.

Dear Mom and Dad :: I am going to try and come to Sanibel for a short weekend.  Kyle will probably stay here, but I think I need a break from reality and just disconnect from the world.  And if I am in Atlanta that won't happen.  I'm saving my allowance to see if I can afford a $300+ plane ticket.

Dear Miranda Lambert :: Please protect your voice this weekend and get better soon.  We have been looking forward to your concert next weekend for months.  It is the kick off to the most fabulous girl weekend ever.  So make Blake make you some tea and just kick back in that big house of yours and take.it.easy.  We need some gunpowder and lead in Atlanta!!!

Dear Heather :: I cannot wait to see your face next weekend!! I just mat not let you go back to Tuscaloosa.  And I know you need this weekend more than anything so I hope it is fun and exciting and nothing but amazing! :)

Dear Mulligan :: Sir. It is hot hot hot outside.  Please do not give yourself self imposed heat stroke again. Legit, we thought you were going to fall over and drown in your water bowl.

------

Needless to say. I am looking forward to this weekend. Kyle and I really have nothing on the books so I plan on sleeping and watching shows on Netflix.  I am trying this crazy spin studio in Buckhead called FlyWheel and then doing a Zoes Kitchen lunch on Sunday with my friend Afton {which BTW, I am loving our weekend workouts}.  But other than that, we really have nothing planned.  Which works because it is too hot to really do anything.

And will someone remind me to buy a new digital camera before this weekend?! Please and thank you!!

:: Friday*s Letters ::

I really liked this last week so I am bringing it back again.  And then probably again. and again. and again.

Dear Adventures of Newleyweds: I LOVE that I discovered your blog and your Friday Letters Link Up.  I am loving this link up, I love participating, and I am love discovering new fun blogs.  One of this days I will figure out how to put the pretty little graphic in for the real legit link up.

Dear Weekend: This week has been easy and uneventful, but I am really ready for you. I am not looking forward to our scheduled deep clean.  But the brown, dirt dust needs to be taken care of {thanks dogs!}. But I am looking forward to sleeping past 6:15 and being able to crawl back into bed after letting the dogs out.  I do hope I see the gym this weekend. And I wish you wouldn't fly by too fast.

Dear Bridesmaid Who I Had To Ask If You Still Wanted To Be In My Wedding: Every now and then I think about you and I miss you and our dinners and phone chats and inside jokes and long laughs and zoes kitchen and pure barre obsession. And I think about how it hurts my heart that we are not friends any more and I do not know what happened.  But then I have to remember that you're not a good person. You didn't even have the decency to tell me that you no longer wanted to be part of Kyle and my big day.  I had to awkwardly ask you.  To this day I still think that had I not sent that email you never would have said anything and you would have chosen to humiliate me by not telling me. Letting me put your name in a program. And then not showing up.  When you pop in my mind from time to time I remember that email chain and am immediately reminded that you probably never valued our friendship since you wouldn't even tell me why or what happened.  And then I laugh because wedding pictures are forever and I dodged a bullet. I am in your wedding pictures but I don't have to look at your face in mine.

Dear Vets Office: You all have really gone above and beyond the call of duty to ask about Kennesaw and how she is doing. Yes. I realize both our dogs visited you with paw issues back to back, but I promise we don't abuse our  dogs.  They actually are treated like royalty and live in a puppy paradise.  This was a weird fluke freak accident that they both got hurt.  Or... maybe Kyle and I are overanalyzing this and Ken Ken's paw injury actually was a serious one.  I mean 2 weeks later she is just now finishing her meds. Hmmm...

Dear Justin and 375 Photography: I know I have been married since March and I got my wedding pictures while on my honeymoon - but they still blow me away everytime I look at them.  Thank you so much for capturing so many awesome moments.

Dear Whoever gave Bert Weiss and his family another dog: What in hells bells were you thinking?  Do you not listen to The Bert Show?!  Don't you know that he gave he recently gave his other dog Pancake up rather than first taking the time to see if he could work with the dog and train him?  Obviously Bert and his wife don't understand that a dog is a lifetime committment and think it is okay to get rid of it when their is trouble and they're teaching their kids the same thing.  Granted, I know I am late hearing this news since I do not listen to that show anymore - but really another dog?!

Dear Wedding Guests That We Really Didn't Talk To:  I have been feeling really bad about it ever since March. Sometimes I feel like the worst Bride and Host that I didn't talk to everyone and give everyone the time they deserved. Especially since so many of you  drove from so far.  I wish I had a do over. I wish I had made a better effort to move from table to table, person to person, and then partied with my friends. Just know that you being there meant the world to both Kyle and I and we both love you all so very much.

Dear Mulligan: You need an attitude adjustment.  I love you.  You're my first born furbaby.  But what happened this week with the dog food bag was unacceptable.  You and I sir will be working on this respect issue and you are not gonna like it! (But rememeber momma loves you!)

Is this my dog?

I saw this and immediately emailed it to Kyle.  This is 100% our Mulligan.  He has shredded countless beds in his crate.  Recently he shredded Kennesaw's bed when we left them over night at daycare for a few days. He has put holes in his new "king bed".  And the best part: he totally gives us the same "I don't know what happened" look.

Oh Poor Mulligan!

Mulligan had a little accident with the back seat of my car. He somehow broke his nail back to the quick while getting in the car. And bled everywhere. I didn't really notice it or think anything of it (horrible dog mom, I know) and he got his yearly checkup and shots and was good to go.

Needless to say he ended back up at the vet with a vet tech (free thank goodness) since i self diagnosed mulligan's injury and got worried about it getting infected. and after being told he may have to lose his nail we were sent home. And mulligan is on "limited play" and restricted indoors.

This is gonna be harder than you would think. With 2 dogs who play all the time. And mulligan lives outside. Thank goodness I am leaving for 4 days. Kyle gets to be the mean parent!

:: foto friday ::

ignore the mess of a bed - but these are my loves that i do not talk about nearly enough.  i feel like between their early morning wrestling matches and kennesaw's constant need for belly rubs and mulligan's love of rocks and barking at the sky i would have plenty of fun times and good stories for you ... but i slack and am a horrible puppy mom! 

but, here are the dogs i so totally love - just lounging the the bed - and i love how they are kind of sort of cuddling!  no room for me to crawl in of course!

Happy New Years!

It is 2012!! =D  HAPPY NEW YEARS!!  Kyle and I really had an uneventful night.  We started by taking down 95% of Christmas (still waiting for Kyle to take apart the tree) and watched a Christmas Carol.  We then spent the night by sitting on the couch (me in my PJs).  We watched Auburn win their bowl game and played each other in Words with Friends.  We then of course, watched the ball drop and then played more Words with Friends. Watch out Atlanta.... we are an exciting couple!

We also got Mulligan ready for any traveling he may do in 2012 {{he looks MISERABLE}}



And by the end of the night, Kyle and I were not the only ones who were super tired

HAPPY 2012!  IT IS GOING TO BE AN EXCITING YEAR!!

Because I'm Having a Bad Day...

I wanted to share this.  Who can have a bad day when both your dogs got to sit on Santa's lap at Doggie Daycare with funny things around their necks?!  I love those little guys!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Mulligan!!

In honor of Mulligan's 3rd birthday {I feel like we have had him for wayyy more than 3 years} I am posting pictures of him growing up into the stapping young man that he is today.  Happy Birthday Bigs!

Mulligan's 1st Snow!

Napping with his Momma! We both have baby blankets!

1st and only baby pool that he destroyed

with his brother - believe it or not

happy dog!! big smiles!

cone of shame!

winter coat that he hates *sorry mom*

Here is to many more years and laughter and fun and fabulous pictures with Mr. Mulligan!!

new addition.

So. I need to update this blog to reflect the fact that we no longer have just Mulligan as a pet ... but we have 2 dogs now.  Mulligan & Kennesaw Shanahan-Vines. 

And being a dog mom and dad to two dogs at times is much more work and at times it is much easier.  Harder times: breakfast and dinner. when 1 dog is puking and the other is curious. when 1 dog barks, the other one barks.  Easier times: playtime and they wear each other out.  dog walks.

And getting 1 dog who has been an only spoiled child for pushing 3 years to love and adore the new addition was a challenge too, but now that they love each other the only tense moments are in the mornings.  Lets just say Mulligan takes after his Mom and Dad and it not quite a morning person, where Kennesaw wants to love everyone.all.the.time.

thanksgiving style. three things thursday.

happy thanksgiving! i hope everyone is having a good holiday with their families and friends. and i hope everyone who ran a turkey trot this morning had a great race!!  and don't worry runners: you can eat all you want today... you'll run it off later.  ...and now onto the traditional 3 thing thursday.

1. since kyle and i are not married we do not do holidays together so we have to separate and take turns with the dog. i have him the first 2 days, kyle gets him the 2nd 2 days. in an attempt to wear the dog out before all 13 people gathered at my house to chow down i took mully on a "run". ok. i have not run more than 3 miles since marine corps marathon and man does it show... after 2 miles i was dead and i couldn't even run 1 mile without stopping to catch my breath. ...looks like i need to start cracking down and start running and working out again.
2. tomorrow is the Iron Bowl.  this is the match up between Alabama and Auburn. This year it is being hosted in the most beautiful stadium in the country on the most beautiful campus - Bryant Denny.  I would be a liar if I said I was not nervous... I sure hope Saban has some tricks under his sleeves to stop mr. cam newton... our young little team makes me nervous.  BUT I am firm believer that you never know what will happen in Bryant Denny. There is something magical and wonderful about that stadium.  Kyle is convinced that Alabama is going to win for 1 reason and that reason is: It has been 19 games since Alabama has lost in Bryant Denny; therefore, Alabama has to win.  Please Alabama, please. I need a win. I would rather have an earned W than a given to us W when the NCAA makes Auburn vacate all their wins when they rule $cam Newton (sorry had to do it) ineligible.  ...and with that Roll Tide Roll :o)
3.  Have you ever looked at the STATS section of your blog.  I just spent like 10 minutes looking at it and it is crazy to see how people are led to my blog... the #1 google search that leads people to me is "girl with the 13 minute mile" ... and even cooler, I found blogs that I had never discovered before but have me linked on their blogroll (thanks!!) and like I really need any more blogs to read, I followed like 10 more today and feel like I need to catch up.  One that I found is inthegym.net and it has everything from playlists to treadmill work outs to race reviews to product reviews... long story short, I am a fan [and will be adding it to my blogroll].  The stats also tracks your peak months (I had A LOT of readers in October) and where people are reading from (the Netherlands... say whaa?).  Crazy cool feature. If you have blogger lose yourself in it... I know you will.

Like I said before, have a rocking thanksgiving!! We all have SO much to be thankful for!!

my dog is a runner!

If you know anything about me you know that I am (a) a runner and (b) I l-o-v-e my dog Mulligan (pictured to the left).  Kyle and I have been talking about making Mulligan a running dog since we got him a year or so ago, but I  never took the time to train him how to properly run on a leash. He tugged and pulled, weaved in and out of my legs, and wouldn’t stay on one side.  Needless to say, he would not have made a good running friend.  Up until a few weeks ago.  I ditched the long 6 foot leash and switched to the 4 foot leash and with some training & splashing of water on him he learned to walk like the gentleman that he is.  And since he has had a lot of energy lately and has been doing crazy runs around the apartment, I decided to give it a whirl.  AND HE DID SO WELL!!

This afternoon, I took him on his first momma and son jog.  We just did a little over mile, and he did so well.  I expected him to hop around like a fool, run ahead of me, trip me, and just not be fun.  Kyle looked really nervous as he handed me the leash and told me to “be good with him & keep him safe” (we’re such parents….) and I promised I would get him home safe and report back.  He did so so so well but the poor thing was so hot and I am sure he was wondering where home was and how he could get there. He was lagging behind, made me stop a few times, but he did so well.  1.10 miles later we were home and he couldn’t decide if he wanted to lay on the cold kitchen tiles or drink ice water – so he kinda did both. 30 minutes later the poor guy couldn’t even eat dinner. He would eat for a few seconds and have to take a break.  Maybe a mile was too far for the first run, but I am hoping that he is down for the count early tonight. The picture to the right not him tonight, but that is pretty much what he looks like!  

I am so excited to have a running pal.  I am going to slowly ease him into it… build his endurance.  But a few questions for the other dog running people.

• how do I keep him hydrated? I have a water bottle, what do I do for him?
• How far is too far?  How fast can I ramp him up?
• Are there any signs that I should look for when running that means he may have had too much?

Oh I am so excited!!

the winter coat.

I want to start by saying that my mother is the nicest woman to walk this earth. She is a people pleaser. She wants to make her kids (and their pets) very happy. Well, Mulligan and us - we live in Atlanta. We're from Northern VA, but we reside is Atlanta. We went home for the Christmas to about two feet of snow. My dog - loved it. I think if he could have had his way he would have stayed outside in it all day. If my yard was fully fenced in, I would have let him ... but it isn't so he had to come in and beg to go out. He never got noticeably cold but my Mom had the brilliant idea that he needed a winter coat. He needed to be warm when he went outside. He could not and would not catch a puppy cold. She asked me what his favorite color was. I told her that when he is with me, it is red. When he is with Kyle it is blue. My Mom told me that she had to "take Mulligan's measurements before we headed back to Atlanta". I told my boyfriend that I thought Mull was getting a coat... I thought he was getting two (a red one and a blue one). Nope. My Mom made a reversible coat.

My Mom came down to Atlanta about a week or so later carrying a fleece, reversible, hooded winter coat for my dog. It is the cutest and most unique/creative thing I have probably ever seen. I loved it instantly. Kyle thought it was cute but was skeptical that Mully would like it or even wear it. Mulligan. He hates it. He thinks it is absolutely horrible. When we first put it on him he tripped all over the harness that goes across his chest. Literally, it was the item that we put on him to calm him down. Acting like a nut job? Just put on the coat. Need a breather from the menacing, just put on the coat. Not quite the use my Mom had intended for it, but hey it was getting used... and used a lot. (Hey, sometimes we just need a break from fetch or chase). He would sit on his bed or in the corner and just sit ... wondering what he did to have to wear the coat with a hood. We used to laugh and say he looked so so cute. And then... my little man got really smart. He learned how to take it off himself. Sure, at first it took 3-4 minutes for it to come off but now it is an instant reflex. So, after a struggle we get it on him and start to relax. Only to hear the Velcro ripping off him and then a few big shakes sends the coat flying. So much for a calming coat. Now, he thinks it is a toy. He would much rather run around with it and munch on the seams then use it as a coat. I am sure my Mom would really like to know that she slaved over a winter coat to keep him warm has turned into a toy. ...It actually now just sits in the top of our coat closet ... with the other coats.

I want to say thanks Mom for the effort. It was and is always greatly appreciated. I wish Mully wasn't such a mean child and would wear it around, but I think he thinks he is too cool and that it will hurt his chances with the ladies. ....But my Dad called it when he said that the dog wouldn't wear it. Oh well. It was cute while it lasted.